$111,000 scam: Italian dies in EFCC custody

OPERATIVES of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and homicide detectives from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) are trying to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of a 52-year-old Italian, Mauro Zanin, in EFCC custody.

Zanin was found dead in his cell yesterday.

The anti-graft agency said he committed suicide.Zanin, who reportedly died about 4.50 a.m., was scheduled to appear in court today, following a complaint by one Ahamefula Chibuzor Ewuzie that he (the deceased) fraudulently obtained $111,000 from Gladwaters Nigeria Limited.

The deceased was arrested by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and transferred to the EFCC on May 30, 2012 for further investigation.

The death was confirmed by the anti-graft agency in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, in Abuja.

Zanin, the statement said, was found motionless in the bathroom of the Commission’s detention facility in Abuja about 4.50 a.m.

The Commission stated that the suspected fraudster apparently committed suicide, using his bedsheet.

The statement explained further that all efforts by the duty officers and a team of EFCC medical personnel, led by Dr. Gideon Osi of the Commission’s Medical Unit, to revive him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation proved futile.

He was subsequently certified dead at 5.45 a.m.

Insisting that all clues point to suicide, the EFCC disclosed that the incident had been reported at the Maitama Police Station for investigation.

The EFCC statement reads: "The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regrets to announce the passing on of 52-year-old Italian, Mr. Mauro Zanin, a suspected fraudster two days before he was scheduled to appear in court.

"He was found motionless in the bathroom of the Commission’s detention facility in Abuja at about 4.50 am on June 19, 2012.

"He had apparently committed suicide using his bedsheet.

"All efforts by the duty officers and a team of EFCC medical personnel led by Dr. Gideon Osi of the Commission’s Medical Unit to revive him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation proved futile.

"He was subsequently certified dead at about 5.45 am.

"Though all clues point to suicide, the incident has been reported to the Nigeria Police Station, Maitama for investigation.

"The deceased was arrested by Officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service, following a complaint by one Ahamefula Chibuzor Ewuzie that he fraudulently obtained the sum of $111,000 from Gladwaters Nigeria Limited, and transferred to the Commission on 30th May, 2012 for further investigation.

"The Commission had filed a five-count charge against him in court and got Wednesday, June 20, 2012 as hearing date.

"He was served the court papers to prepare his defence yesterday.

"His arrest was officially communicated to the Italian Embassy on 31st May, 2012. The same day, the suspect was granted provisional bail, but he could not get a surety to take him on bail.

"While in detention, Mr. Zanin was visited on May 30, 2012, by Mr. Nicola Bazzani, First Secretary and Deputy Head of Mission at the Italian Embassy; and everyday by his lawyer, Mr. Ugochukwu Onyejiuto.

“It is important to say that I took this matter pro bono, with the hope that he will pay my fees when he is free. I was spending my money feeding him… to my amazement; he refused to let his family know what was going on. He has a 30-year-old son who is a lawyer in Italy but he was always telling them all was well,” Onyejiuto said.

"Zanin took his own life a day to his scheduled arraignment. "He was supposed to be arraigned before the Federal High Court (5) in Abuja on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.

"Dr. Mma Wokocha, the complainant expressed shock at the news of the death of the suspect, wondering how she would recover the huge sum of money obtained from her by the deceased.

"However, she absolved the Commission of any blame in the death of the suspect.

Nobody should blame the EFCC. The Commission has done what it has to do, you cannot blame the EFCC...there was total human care for this guy,” she said.

"Facts of the Case: The deceased, a confirmed fraudster, allegedly obtained the money from Wokocha under the guise of selling used Dredger Italgraghe SGT 200 to them, to execute some dredging contract in the Niger Delta.

"The suspect sent them a Bill of Laden but their long wait for the ship, MSC Trinidad, to berth was futile.

"Unknown to the complainant, the Bill of Laden was forged as the ship indicated had ceased to exist long before they ever met the deceased three years ago.

"The remains of the suspect have been deposited at the mortuary awaiting an autopsy”.